Pete Morgan, Gilpin County.  Gilpin County Youth Wrestling was at Lincoln High School in Denver for the last regular season Metro League Tournament on Saturday.  Our mountain kids may not be too familiar with how life is down on Federal Blvd, because many of them literally lost the shirts off their backs on Saturday, but large numbers of missing team shirts didn’t impact how well the kids knew their way around the mat.

Once again the wrestlers showed that they can not only compete with the best but win against the best. Cooley Murdock continued his overall winning streak in the 6 year old category, and Joey Airola grappled his way to first place.

Gilpin Champions:

U6 35-38 - Cooley Murdock, 1st

U10 95-105 - Zacharia Gebhart, 1st

U12 78-83 - Joseph Airola, 1st

U14 135-150 - Mateo Maldonado, 1st

2nd Place

U8 61-65 - Mason Sechler, 2nd

U10 69-73 - Joseph Morgan, 2nd

U12 66-73 - Kamron Brewer, 2nd

U12 92-101 - Kaleb Oliver, 2nd

U14 102-111 - Michael Wenholz, 2nd

3rd Place

U6 54-56 - Jett Hanssen, 3rd

U8 60-64 - Michael DePintos-Jones, 3rd

U8 67-72 - Ryan Hanssen, 3rd

U10 62-65 - Penn Kelle,r 3rd

U10 95-105 - Benjamin Gebhart, 3rd

The league head referee Shane Cole, of Brush, was working a mat at this tournament. Of the U12 78-83 bracket, he says, “That is the toughest bracket I have ever seen at one of these tournaments in all my years involved in the sport.” He spoke the truth. In that bracket every single wrestler was absolutely skilled, strong, and great on the mat. Joey Airola took the top spot in a bracket filled with kids who only ever take 1st.

Practice is over now, and next week GCYW will be at Regionals at Bennett High School, trying hard to battle for a top spot, a large medal, and a chance to compete at the Butler Hancock Arena, at UNC in Greeley, for the League championship the following week.

While the Metro League season may be winding down, GCYW is just getting started. The wrestlers will be competing in the Colorado Youth All State Championship in March and in the Middle School State Championship in April, with many high level tournaments along the way.